Weed-cutting machine.



C. S. SPiTZER.

WEED CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1914.

1 1 72, 1 75 Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

wi f'neamo C. S. SPITZER.

WEED CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1914.

1,172,175. Patented Feb. 15,1916. /7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(1H0: we 1 m C. S. SPITZER.

WEED CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1914.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

CHARLES SAMUEL SPITZEB, OF SHANIKO, GREGON.

"WEED-CUTTING MACHINE.

arrears.

Applicationfiled. November 4, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.

Be known t at I, CHanLns S. Srrrznn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shaniko, in the county of Wasco, State of @regon, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Weed-Cutting Machines; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a weed cutting machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character by means of which the weeds may be cut from adjacent railroad tracks.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the machine that the cutting blades may be rendered operative or inoperative at the will of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that it may be lifted bodily from adjacent the track during the transportation of the same.

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. at is a section on line l& of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail of the blade carrying members. Fig. 6 is a detail of the blade actuating carriage. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of my device. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the blades. Fig. 9 is a fragmental detail of the knife carrying sockets.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views :The reference character 1 indicates the'body of a car which is supported by wheels 2. On each side of the body portion 1 is a beam 3 on each of which is supported a frame 4. v In asmuch as the frames on each of the body portions are identical, as is the mechanism carried thereby, 1 will describe for the sake of brevity but one of the said frames and mechanisms. Each of the frames is rectangular in formation and has transversely extending bracing strips 5 formed integral Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1216.

Serial in). cream. I

with the outer strips 6. Extending upwardly from these strips 5 are a plurality of standards 7 which are secured to the beam 3 by keepers 8 and are arranged in pairs, themembers of each pair being connected together by links 9. Extending between these links 9 is a bolt 10 on which is mounted a connecting link 11, the latter being pivotally secured to an arm 12 on a transversely extending shaft 13, the latter being mounted in bearings 1-l on the opposite sides of the body portion. an operating lever 15 the movement of which is controlled by a quadrant 16, thus it will be seen that when the lever 15 is operated the frames 1 on the sides of the body portion 1 will be raised or lowered from the ground.

In order that the weeds may be cut as the car progresses, 1 have provided on each of the corners of each frame 4: a pair of knives and to properly mount the said knives, I have provided on each corner of the frame 1- stub shafts 1'7 and 18 on the upper ends of which are mounted inter-meshing gears 19 and on the lower ends of which are provided sockets 2O and21, the sockets 20 being on the shafts 1'7 and the sockets 21 on the shafts 18. Each of these sockets includes an outwardly extending tubular member 22 which has a slot 23- formed in its outer surface, in which tubular members the blades are mounted, the blades 24-, 25, 26 and 27 being mounted in the sockets 20 and the blades 28, 29, 30 and 81 being secured in the sockets 21,'the blades 30, 31, 26 and 27 or the rear blades on each frame having corrugated upper surfaces and serrated edges as will be seen in the drawings. comprises a body portion 32 in one end of which is a slit 33 forming two fingers 3 1 and 35, the finger 34 extends into the slot 23 in the tubular portion 22 of each of the sockets, while the finger 35 bears against the outside of tie said tubular members. These blades are maintained in position within the sockets by set screws 36 so that the blades may be removed very readily in case they become broken and may be replaced by new blades.

In order that the blades may be swung so as to be in inoperative positionor substantially parallel to the tracks so as to be H These blades each Cir on each side of each of the frames being connected by links 38. The ends of the links 38 are connected together by toggle levers 39, which levers are pivoted, as at l0. Connected to and extending between the pivotal points of these levers 39 is a rod 41 on which is mounted a carriage 42, the latter having wheels 43 on the ends thereof, which wheels ride on a track 44, the latter extending below and parallel to the rod 41. Thus it may be seen that as the carriage 42 is moved backwardly and forwardly upon its track, the crank arms 37 will be moved about their pivots and consequently the blades operated in the manner described.

Theoperaticn of the blades is simultaneous since the crank arms 37 are connected together by the links 38. In order that the said carriage 42 may be operated, I have provided an upwardly extending link 45 -which is pivotally connected to an arm 46,

which arm extends upwardly and is secured to the end of a shaft 47. This shaft 47 extends transversely of the body 1 of the car and is mounted in bearings 48. It is of course understood that the arm :46 of each of the devices is secured to the adjacent end of the shaft. On one end of the shaft is secured a lever 49 which operates on a quad rant 50, thus by actuating this lever, the blades through the mechanism described will be swung'about their pivots into either operative or inoperative positions and into any adjusted. position desired. Extending between the'frames i and formed integral therewith is a bar 51 so that the said frames will be moved in unison.

In operation the blades are extended to the position shown in the plan View of the drawing and the car moved along the track under its own power or by any other suitable means, and the blades cut the weeds growing adjacent the track. It is of course to be understood that theblades which operate on the outsides of the track are short enough to clear the track braces.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a machine for cuttingweeds which is particularly useful in cutting weeds adjacent railroad tracks, and I have so constructed the device that two frames are provided, one located over each track. 011 these frames are provided cut ting blades which may be swung to either operative or inoperative position by the op erator, and I have so constructed the device that the frames may be moved bodily vertically away from the tracks.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodimentof my invention, I

have merely done so for the sake of con venience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes maybe made in the details of construction thereof without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of theap pended claims.

I claim V r 1. In a weed cutting machine, the combination, with av pair of spaced frames, of cutting blades mounted upon tne same, a pair of spaced standards extending upwardly from each frame, a car, a lever mounted upon the car, means connecting the lever and the said standards for raising the latter, a second lever mounted upon the car and links connected to the last mentioned lever and to the blades.

2. In a weed cutting machine, the combination with a frame, of a pair of cutting blades pivotally mounted thereon and geared together, links pivotally connected to one member of each pair of blades, a bar, a carriage for supporting the same, the suit links being also pivotally connected together and to the end of-the bar and means for moving the carriage in either direction; 7

3. In a weed cutting machine, the co1nbination with a tubular socket, having a groove in one side thereof, of a blade having a slit therein, which slit produces fingers on the blade, one of said fingers lying within the groove and the other within the socket and a set screw bearing against the last mentioned finger for maintaining the blade in place. 7

41'- In a Weed cutting machine, the combination with a frame, of a pair of stub shafts rotatably mounted at each corner thereof, cutting blades on the lower ends of the stub shafts, gears on the upper ends thereof and means for rotatin the 'ears to o crate the blades.

In testimony whereof, I' a'fiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. SAMUEL SPI'IZER. Witnesses:

ROY R. WHEELER, JOHN Wnsr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

